Artificial grass mat



Oct. 1, Si L FlNEMAN l ARTIFICIAL GRSS MAT Filed June 6, 1954 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Saul ncmcm.

2g-g (Z/ BY 20M/,AM wir v ATTORNEY.

c lNvNTOR. zz/i i Oct; 1, 1935- s. l. FINEMAN ARTIFICIAL GRASS MATPatented Oct. 1, 1935 I y UNITE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTIFICIAL GRASSMAT Saul I. Fineman, Cleveland, Ohio Application June 6, 1934, SerialNo. 729,268

11 Claims. (Cl. 27-30) This invention relates to artificial grass mate-Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic View further illusrial, grass mats and thelike; and relates partrating the construction of the grass mat of Figs.ticularly to artificial grass mats for decorative 8 and 9. Y

interment purposes. Referring to the drawings,lin Figs. 1, 2 and 5,

5 It is an object of my inventionrtoprovide an at I I have illustrated agrass mat embodying my 5 improved construction of artificial grass mator invention comprising a flexible base preferably the like. of fabricsuch as burlap, duck, canvas or the like,

Another object is to provide an artificial grass 2, shown particularlyin Fig. 5, having secured to s mat construction which will have improveddurathe upper side thereof upstanding blades of bility when subjected torough handling and reartificial grass or the like, 3, the grass matbeing 10 peated usage. s diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4Another object is to provide an artificial grass merely by the outlineof the parts thereof, to mat construction having an improved mode ofsimplify the drawings and to render the construc- 1 operation whenemployed for decorative intertion and mode of operation thereof clearer.ment purposes. In the preferred practice of my invention, the 15 Anotherobject is to provide an improved methgrass mat I is rectangular inshape, of the genod and means of decorating an open grave dureralproportions of the mouth of a grave in coning the interment ceremony.nection with which it is to be used for decorative Other objects will beapparent to those skilled interment purposes, and is preferably all inone in the art to which my invention appertains. piece or comprises aplurality of pieces all se- 20 My invention is fully disclosed in thefollowing cured together, for example by sewing the same, descriptiontaken in connection with the acomso that when completely assembled thegrass mat panyingA drawings, in which: may be handled as a single piece.The grass mat,

Fig. 1 is a perspective View illustrating an em- Figs. 3 and 4,comprises an outer border portion bodiment of my invention and a mode ofopera- 4 large enough to overlap the ground surround- 25 tion thereof;ing and adjacent to the grave mouth; and com- Fig. 2 is a sectional Viewtaken approximately prises an inner or central portion 5 adapted to fromthe plane 2 2 of Fig. 1 with some parts be laid directly over the openmouth of the grave.

l thereof in elevation and other parts reproduced The central portion 5,in the form of Figs. 3 and BOL in operated positions indotted line tofurther 4, comprises a pair of flap portions 6 6 meet- 30 illustrate themode of operation of my invention; ing along the longitudinal line ofthe mat as at Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a grass mat embody- 1 andadapted to bend downwardly with a hinging my invention, the view beingtaken approxiing 'action along lines 8 8, the opposite ends of` matelyfrom the plane 3 3 of Fig. 2 and rothe iiap portions 6 being separatefrom the ends tated through 90, the view being'diagrammatic of theborder portion llby slits 9 9 completing 35 in some respects; s the napform of the naps 6 6. l

FigA is a diagrammatic view of the under side The under sides of theflaps 6 6 at longitudiof the grass mat of Fig. 3; nally spaced pointsalong the meeting edges 1 1 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view to an enlargedthereof, have secured thereto, respectively, pairs 40 scale taken fromthe plane 5 5 of Fig. 3 and of securing devices IIl III each comprisingbases 40 showing parts omitted from the diagrammatic II-II, Fig. 5,adapted to be secured to portions showing of Fig. 3; of the flapsadjacent the edges 1 in any suitable Fig. 6 is a View generally similarto Fig. 3 but manner, for example as by riveting them thereto sillustrating a modification; as shown in Fig. 5, and each comprising aneye Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken I2, the eyes of the twosecuring devices I 6 I Il of 45 from the plane 1 1 of Fig. 6 and drawnto a each pair being in alignment; and the several larger scale; sdevices I6 IIl along the edges 1 1 having all Fig. 8 is a fragmentaryView to an enlarged of the eyes I2 thereof disposable in alignment. A pscale approximately full size of the under side of rod or wire I3 isprojected through all of the eyes a grass mat illustrating aconstruction of mat and, in cooperation with the devices Ill-I6, thus 50suitable for use in the practice of my invention; secures the adjacentedge portions` 1 of the flaps Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of thegrass mat 6 6 together, holding the flaps in the normal of Fig. 8, theview being considered as taken from plane of the mat I as a whole, andpreventing the the plane 9 9 of Fig. 8 and'turned right side flaps frombending or hinging around lines 8 8. up; f' The mat as above describedis, in the use there- 55 of, at a funeral ceremony in the cemetery, laidupon the grave entirely covering and concealing it. The casketsupporting frame of usual or suitable construction is then laid upon themat, being supported by the four-corner posts or pedestals lli-M, thelatter being supported by the ground under the mat adjacent the gravemouth.

The casket I5 is then laid upon the straps I6 of the frame preparatoryto lowering it into the grave. The ceremony may now proceed an-d ifdesired the bereaved ones may leave at the conclusion of the ceremonywith the casket still supported as described and as illustrated in Fig.1.

Thereafter, the undertaker in charge of the ceremony may cause the rodI3 to be withdrawn whereupon the flaps 6-5 will be released and thecasket l5 lowered into the grave by operation of the straps l@ in theusual manner. During this operation the flaps 6 may bend downwardlyaround the lines 8 8 into the position illustrated in dotted lines inFig. 2, and an opening is thus made in the mat l approximately the sizeof the grave. The casket i5 will, on being lowered into the grave, takeup the position illustrated at IEA and may ultimately be deposited inthe bottom of the grave as at EEB. The frame may then be removed and thegrass mat may be picked up as a` unit and taken away by the undertaker.

It will thus be apparent that I have provided an original and improvedform of ceremony in connection with the mode of operation described formy improved grass mat, and have provided an improved grass mat makingsuch improved ceremony possible.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have illustrated another construction for the flapsin the central portion of the mat. Here four flaps are provided, a pairof end flaps EEB-2G and a pair of intermediate naps Zl-Zl, the end flapshinging around lines .Z2-22 and the intermediate flaps hinging aroundlines 23-23; theflaps being provided by slits in the mat generally inthe form of back-to-back confronting U-form slits 24--24 intermediatelyconnected by longitudinal slits 25. Each flap is connected to others ofthe flaps on the under side of the mat base by devices 2E one of whichis shown to an enlarged scale and in cross-section in Fig. 7. The device23 comprises a pair of angleform pieces Z'lsecured as by rivets 23 tothe under side of the mat fabric or other base 29 with legs lil-il ofthe angle pieces closely adjacent and adjacent the edges of a pair offlaps, for eX- ample the slit edges 25-25 of the intermediate flaps 2l-Zl.

A fastening device of the class known as a glove fastener, d8, isprovided comprising a male portion 49 and a female portion d, securedrespectively to the angle legs iii-47. When the mat is laid upon thegrave, the fastening devices 23 are all in engaged condition retainingthe aps in the general plane of the base.

In the operation of this form, when the time has come to lower thecasket into the grave, it is lowered by operation of the supportingframe and straps I6 and the weight of the casket upon the centralportion of the mat will cause the fastening devices @8 to be releasedone after the other requiring no further manual operation of the mat andthe flaps each bending downwardly along an inner wall of the grave andthe casket being lowered therethrough. Thereafter, as -described inconnection with the first form, the mat may be removed and taken awayafter the lowering frame has been removed therefrom. f

As will be apparent therefore, the flaps may b of various shapes anddisposition, two forms therefor being shown and described above, andvarious securing and attaching devices may be provided to temporarilyhold them in elevated grave-cover* ing position within the scope of myinvention. 5

A mat suitable for the above-.described operative and decorativepurposes may be made 'as stated, by attaching strips to a flexible base,preferably strips of dried raifla grass sewed to a fabric base. In thepractice of my invention as above l0 described, however, it is highlydesirable that the fabric be at all times covered by the grass stripsand that a very strong durable mat be provided to insure repeated usesthereof without rapid deterioration the mat being repeatedly bent at l5the hinge line of the flap or flaps; and when my invention is practicedas illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7, the mat being subjected to strainswhen the casket is lowered therethrough. I therefore will now describeone method by which a mat suitable 20 for the practice of my inventionmay be constructed.

A piece of the base fabric 3l), Figs` 8 to 10, is laid upon a stitchingor sewing machine. Strips of dried grass 3l-3I are laid in parallelrelation 25 and in a diagonal direction across preferably the diagonalcenter line of the piece of fabric, which piece is approximately thesize and shape of the finished rectangular mat. The strips 3l are thensewed with a row of stitching 32, the stitching 32 30 running as stateddiagonally across the fabric base approximately on the center linethereof, sewing the strips 3l to the base by substantially their middleor at least their intermediate portions. The stitching 32 and strip 3lmay extend 35 entirely across the base from one edge to the otherthereof.

A group of strips 33-33 is laid parallel to the strips 3| with endportions thereof overlapping adjacent end portions of the strips 3l. Itmay be 40 stated at this point that in the diagrammatic showing of Fig.10, the strips are each indicated by a single line, whereas as a matterof fact the raffia or other dried grass strips may be an eighth of aninch wide or of approximately such 45 dimensions. A second stitch row 34is then sewed parallel to the row 32 and sewing the intermediate portionof the strips 33-33 and also the adjacent end portion of the first groupstrips '3l-3l. A third row of strips 35-35 is then laid parallel to 50the strips 3l and 33 and overlapping adjacent end portions of the strips33 and another row of stitching 36 is made, sewing down to the fabricthe intermediate portions of the strips 35 and the adjacent end portionsof the strips 33. 55

This procedure is continued until the entire fabric base is covered witha layer of strips, some of which as described are sewed to the fabric byboth an intermediate and an end portion, and other portions of thestrips having free end por- 60 tions. This constitutes what may becalled a rst layer of strips on the base.

Another layer of strips is now applied in the following manner. A row ofstrips 3l is laid upon the rst layer, the strips of the group being gen-65 erally parallel to each other but at an angle to the direction of thestrips of the rst layer, and are sewed throughthe rst layer and to thefabric by a row of stitching 38 at an angle to the stitching SE-Sfi-Si,the stitching 33 being preferably 70 parallel to one edge of thefinished rectangular mat or the fabric base thereof.

Another group of strips 39 is then laid on top of the first layer,overlapping adjacent end portions of the strips 31, and by a row ofstitching 40,

`the fabric.`

Another layer of strips 4| is laid parallel to the strips 39 and 31 withend portions overlapping `.adjacent end portions of the strips 39, Vandby means of a row of stitching 42 the intermediate portions of thestrips 4| and the end portions of the strips 39 are sewed. The rows ofstitching 38, 49 and 42 are all preferably parallel to each other.

This process is continued until a second corn- `stated made along adiagonal center line; and

successive rows are applied at both sides of the center row until theentire base is covered by the first layer; and the second layer isstarted by a row along a centerline parallel to a side A edge of thebase and successive rows are applied at both sides of this center rowuntil the base is entirely covered with a second layer.

The directions of the rows of stitchings 32, 34, 35,- and the rows 38,40 and 42 are preferably chosen so that a generally diamond-shapedpattern is repeated all over the base, as clearly shown in Figs. 8 and10. Rows of stitching 43 along the outer edges of the base may beapplied to reinforce the same, and the hinging lines 8-8 of Fig. 3 andthe hinging lines 22 and 23 of Fig. 6 may be reinforced by stitching orotherwise.

The above described method of applying strips to the base not onlyprovides upstanding pieces or lend portions as shown for example at 45,Fig. 9, simulating closely growing grass, but provides also stripportions 46 sewed down to the upper side of the base 30 completelycovering the same. At no place can the fabric be seen, even if theupstanding strip portions 45 are parted to View the same. Thus a thickmat simulating grass and sod is provided without a visible portion ofthe underlying fabric anywhere, and the same may be bent at the hinginglines above described without undue rapid deterioration. The entire matis strong and flexible, being bound together at all parts not onlyby thestitching above described in diamond pattern, but by the strip portions46, Fig. 9, interconnecting and binding together adjacent portions ofthe base throughout.

Of course, the thickness of the upstanding strips 45 and fabric coveringstrips 46, Fig. 9,

may be predetermined by applying any desired numbers of strips perlineal inch, for example any number of strips 3| per inch along thestitching row 32 and likewise for the other groups and stitches.

My invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shownand described; other changes and modifications than those shown may bemade within the spirit of my invention without sacrificing itsadvantages and within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A grass mat construction for interment purposes comprising a bodyportion formed to overlap` the ground adjacent the mouth of the graveand a portion in the form of a iap hingingly connected thereto, meansfor normally holding the flap in generally horizontal position over theopen another portion of the mat construction, the

grave, releasing means comprising a horizontally movable elementaccessible at a point laterally of the grave mouth and operable byhorizontal movement thereof to release the flap to permit it to benddownwardly into the grave. 5

2. A grass mat construction for interment purposes comprising a borderportion formed to overlap the ground adjacent the mouth of a grave andan inner portion in the form of a plurality of flaps connected thereto,means for normally holding the flaps in generally horizontal positionsto cover and conceal the open'mouth of the grave, comprising means forconnecting together adjacent portions of diierent iiaps and the meansbeing operable to release the flaps to permit them to bend downwardlyinto the grave to permit a casket to be lowered thereinto through themat.

3. A grass mat construction for interment purposes comprising a borderportion formed to overlap the ground adjacent the mouth of a grave and20 an inner portion in the form of a plurality of ilaps connectedthereto, means for normally holding the aps in generally horizontalpositions to cover and conceal the open mouth of the grave, comprisingmeans for connecting together adjacent portions of different flaps andthe means being operable by movement of a casket lowered into the graveto release the flaps to permit them to bend downwardly into the grave.

4. A grass mat construction for interment pur- 30 poses comprising abody portion adapted to lie on the ground adjacent the mouth of a graveand a flap portion adapted to be normally disposed in substantiallyhorizontal grave mouth covering position, and hingingly connected to thebody portion to permit it to depend into the grave so that a casket maybe lowered thereinto, means holding the ap portion in normal positioncomprising a securing element on the ap portion and another securingelement engaged therewith, means for 40 supporting the other securingelement, and disengaging means operable by manually effected horizontalmovement thereof to disengage the elements.

5. A grass mat construction for interment pur- 45 poses comprising abody portion formed to lie upon the ground adjacent the mouth of a graveand a portion in the form of a ap hingingly connected thereto, means fornormally supporting the flap substantially in horizontal grave mouth 50covering position comprising attaching means connecting Van edge portionof the flap with another portion of the mat construction, the attachingmeans being operable to disconnect the flap to permit it to hinginglydepend into the grave.

6. A grass mat construction for interment purposes comprising a bodyportion formed to lie upon the ground adjacent the mouth of a grave anda portion in the form of a flap hingingly connected thereto, means fornormally supporting the flap substantially in horizontal grave mouthcovering position comprising attaching means connecting anedge portionof the flap with 65 attaching means being operable to disconnect theflap to permit it to hingingly depend into the grave, and means foroperating the attaching means at a point laterally of the grave mouth.

'7. A grass mat construction for interment purposes comprising a bodyportion formed to lie upon the ground adjacent the mouth of a grave anda central portion comprising a pair of flaps hingingly connected to thebody portion at opposite portions thereof, means supporting the flaps 75in substantially horizontal grave mouth covering position comprisingattaching means connecting confronting edge portions of the oppositeflaps, the attaching means being operable to disconnect the flaps topermit them to hingingly depend into the grave.

8. A grass mat construction for interment purposes comprising a bodyportion formed to lie upon the ground adjacent the mouth of a grave anda portion in the form of a flap hingingly connected thereto, means fornormally supporting the flap in substantially horizontal grave mouthcovering position comprising attaching means connecting an edge portionof the lap at a linear series of points to another portion of the matconstruction, and a single means operable to disconnect the ap at saidpoints successively to permit the Y iiap to hingingly depend into thegrave.

9. A grass mat construction for interment purposes comprising a bodyportion formed to lie upon the ground adjacent the mouth of a grave anda portion in the form of a iiap hingingly connected thereto, means fornormally supporting the ap in substantially horizontal grave mouthcovering position comprising attaching means connecting an edge portionof the flap at a linear series of points toanother portion of the matconstruction, and a single means operable by horizontal force appliedthereto at a point laterally of the grave mouth to disconnect the iiapat said points successively to permit the flap to hingingly depend intothe grave.

10` A grass mat construction for interment purposes comprising a bodyportion formed to lie upon the ground adjacent the mouth of a grave anda central portion comprising a pair of flaps hingingly connected to thebody at opposite portions thereof, means supporting the iiaps insubstantially horizontal grave mouth covering position comprisingattaching means connecting confronting edge portions of the oppositeflaps at a llinear series of points, and a single means operable todisconnect the iiaps from each other at said points successively topermit the flaps to hingingly depend into the grave.

11. A grass mat construction for interment purposes comprising a bodyportion formed to lie upon the ground adjacent the mouth of a grave anda central portion comprising a pair of flaps hingingly connected to thebody at opposite portions thereof, means supporting the flaps insubstantially horizontal grave mouth covering position comprisingattaching means connecting confronting edge portions of the opposite apsat a linear series of points, and a single means operable by horizontalforce applied thereto at a point laterally of the grave mouth todisconnect the naps from each other at said points successively topermit the flaps to hingingly depend into the grave.

SAUL I. FINEMAN.

